Four Tips for Setting Up Multiple Monitors

VelocityEHS certified ergonomist Josiah Allen shares four tips for setting up multiple monitors.

Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Josiah, a certified ergonomist with Humantech (now VelocityEHS Ergonomics). It’s becoming increasingly popular to use two or more displays when completing work, and I want to go through four main tips to keep in mind when you’re setting up your workstations.

First, when using two monitors, the primary monitor should always be centered directly in front of you, with the reference or secondary monitor right beside it. As always, the distance of the monitor should be at an arm’s length away from your body, and the top should be at or slightly below eye level. Additionally, the monitors should be able to tilt to reduce overhead glare.

Second, if both monitors are considered primary displays, they should be placed as close as possible together in the middle of the workstation, directly in front of you, in order to minimize neck twisting.

The third tip is that if your primary and secondary monitors are different sizes, like when you use a laptop as an external monitor, they should be vertically aligned so that the center of both devices is at the same height.

The fourth tip is that if you’re using three or more monitors, place and adjust them so that there’s little to no neck movement, especially twisting.

One last thing to keep in mind: if you have additional reference documents like a tablet or document holder, you want to place that underneath the external monitor between it and your keyboard to minimize rotation. Because remember, you’re allowed a little bit of flexion so long as it’s less than 20 degrees.

Again, I’m Josiah with HumanTech. Thanks for joining us, and as always, if you have any other questions, please reach out to us or check out our website at Humantech (now ehs.com). Thanks.